The Surveillance State is bringing people together. In this case Apple (iOS) and Google (Android). You will now be able to send end-to-end encrypted messages from iPhones to Android devices and vice versa. It's kind of like what Signal and Telegram do.
You already have that capability with Apple devices sending to other Apple devices, and Android to Android. This new capability now makes it a big, happy, (more) secure world.
You will need to go into your device settings and enable Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol. But yay for cross vendor cooperation and interoperability.
The question is does this service have a "back door" so the CIA, NSA etc can access these messages...
ReplyDeleteWithout knowing anything about the issue, I have to opine - of course they do. But would the tell you - of course they would not. Security dont cha know!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think so. The encryption used is plain jane socket level crypto - Diffie-Hellman, RSA, AES, etc. If this is backdoored, then encrypted web is also backdoored.
ReplyDeleteThis is just using existing crypto on a protocol supported by both Android and iOS.
I merely say again, beware of ANYTHING promising security from a company headquartered in any Fourteen Eyes country!
DeleteA smart person would assume that there is no such thing as truly secure digital communication. I sure wouldn't. And the Mossad has proven repeatedly that they can penetrate the communications of terrorists. Who while savages are not ALL stupid.
ReplyDelete"Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts" - Laocoön, prophet of Troy, 19 B.C.
ReplyDeleteI have a Galaxy S22 and tried to find where I could enable RCS. I couldn't find it in the phone. After doing some research, it appears that it was removed from the Samsung Message app by my carrier (AT&T). I might be able to get it if I install Google Messenger but have reservations about doing that.
ReplyDeleteTell us, O Great Borepatch - could the "secure app" unpleasantness be some sort of trapdoor left by some of Biden's (Obama's) thugs to cause 47 problems and "scandal?" As I used to tell many when I was in the bidness over a decade ago, "if it can go out over the internet or cellular (but I repeat myself) DO NOT count on anything being secure."
ReplyDeleteA carefully buried/hidden hyperlink to a reporter's smartphone would be just the kind of Dirty Trick (cf All the President's Men) I'd want to install to sabotage the next guy in, were he my enemy.
Your thoughts, good sir?